Nothing cools you off better than a quick dip or swim on a hot day. But no one wants to get ill due to unsafe E.coli and bacteria levels in beaches, lakes, rivers, and swimming holes. Thankfully, Columbia Riverkeeper staff and volunteers work diligently to monitor local water quality at popular recreation sites. Samples are collected weekly at the most heavily populated locations (Hood River Waterfront Park Swim Beach, Event Site, Outer Hook and Inner Hook) and twice-monthly or monthly at other Columbia Gorge sites. Data is uploaded to Swim Guide enabling the public to access current water quality conditions throughout the gorge and make informed decisions on safe swimming and fishing locations. While Swim Guide does not consider toxic pollution or other potential environmental concerns, it is a valuable tool that can be used for avoiding beaches with unsafe bacteria levels. https://www.theswimguide.org/
And, speaking of clean water…WA Dept of Ecology just announced their 2017 awards to wastewater treatment plants for outstanding performance. Five Columbia Gorge plants were among the 111 recognized: North Bonneville, Bingen (includes White Salmon), Lyle, and Wishram. The community of Klickitat received a special recognition award for perfect performance for 10 consecutive years. The water that leaves our homes and businesses contains chemicals and pathogens harmful to people, fish and all that depend on clean water. The people who operate these plants maintain exacting standards to protect Washington?s waters.Columbia Insight wrote about one Gorge plant this spring “Behind the scenes at the Bingen-White Salmon Wastewater Treatment Plant.”
